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Health and Health Care

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RAND advances understanding of health and health behaviors and examines how the organization and financing of care affect costs, quality, and access. RAND's body of research includes innovative studies of health insurance, health care reform, health information technology, and women's health, as well as topical concerns such as obesity, complementary and alternative medicine, and PTSD in veterans and survivors of catastrophe.

Following three possible recommendations for medical care for people with an opioid addiction may cut deaths among such patients by as much as one-third. Deaths were much lower among patients who were not prescribed opioids or common types of anxiety medications, those who received psychosocial counseling, and those who had quarterly visits with a physician.

Despite their differences, the Affordable Care Act and the current proposals to replace it take a similar approach to providing health insurance. What might some alternatives look like? And how could they provide coverage to more Americans?

The Individual Placement and Support model, which helps people with severe mental illness gain employment, has been a major statistical success. Why does it work and how it might be applied to other vulnerable populations?

The American workplace is taxing, with workers facing unstable work schedules, unpleasant and hazardous working conditions, and an often hostile social environment. But American workers have a certain degree of autonomy on the job, feel confident about their skill set, and receive social support while on the job.

Results from the American Working Conditions Survey show that, overall, older workers report having more meaningful work and more workplace flexibility than their younger peers; and more than half of retirees would return to work under the right conditions.

Americans face unpleasant and potentially hazardous working conditions, physical exertion, unstable schedules, and have to work during their free time. Despite these challenges, they have some autonomy, most feel confident about their skill set, and many receive social support on the job.

This report describes the psychological health workforce at military treatment facilities, examines the extent to which care is consistent with clinical practice guidelines, and identifies facilitators and barriers to providing this care.

Physicians, nurses and other staff members at medical clinics that care for people from lower-income communities are increasingly dissatisfied with their jobs, adding to evidence that the health care workforce is under stress.

Contrary to popular belief, having a dog or cat in the home does not improve the mental or physical health of children. This largest-ever study explored the notion that pets can improve children's health by increasing physical activity and improving young people's empathy skills.

Physicians, nurses and other staff members at medical clinics that care for people from lower-income communities are increasingly dissatisfied with their jobs, adding to evidence that the health care workforce is under stress.

The care provided by the Military Health System (MHS) is critical to maintaining a physically and psychologically healthy, mission-ready force. When it comes to PTSD and depression, the MHS demonstrates excellent care in some areas but could focus its efforts better in others.

Researcher Spotlight

Vice President, RAND Corporation

Jeffrey Wasserman is vice president and director of RAND Health. He is also a professor of public policy at the Pardee RAND Graduate School. Wasserman recently led projects related to the National Health Security Strategy, public health entrepreneurship, and the relationship between law and…

Associate Director, RAND Health

Paul Koegel is a senior behavioral and social scientist at the RAND Corporation and the associate director of RAND Health, where he helps manage RAND's extensive portfolio of research on health delivery systems and population health. Koegel's 25-year research career as a medical and urban…

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